Sylvester Ofori, a self-proclaimed prophet and former leader of Floodgates of Heaven International Ministries in Orlando, Florida, has admitted to killing his estranged wife but disputes claims that the murder was premeditated.
Ofori’s defense attorney, Christopher Smith, informed a local judge during jury selection that while Ofori acknowledges the act of homicide, he will contest the assertion of premeditation.
This comes despite evidence, including recordings of Ofori threatening to kill his wife, Barbara Tommey, the day before the incident.
Ofori, 39, faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with Tommey’s death on September 8, 2020.
Reports indicate that Ofori approached Tommey as she was attempting to enter her workplace at the Navy Federal Credit Union.
Witnesses saw him following her with a gun, and after she knocked on the doors for help, he shot her, later inflicting additional fatal wounds. Ofori then calmly left the scene and drove away.
Tommey’s sister captured a confrontation between the couple on video, where Ofori threatened to kill her, which was later verified by detectives. The couple had been separated for about three months prior to the shooting.
Described on its website as a renowned prophet, Floodgates of Heaven International Ministries characterized Ofori as a powerful spiritual figure with deep roots in his Christian faith.
In a different perspective, Prophet Elisha Salifu Amoako of Alive Chapel International in Ghana suggested that Ofori’s actions were influenced by what he termed a “calculated witchcraft attack.”
Amoako claimed that he had previously warned Ofori about potential dangers and attributed the incident to supernatural forces rather than Ofori’s character.
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